Tag Archive for deaths

The unwelcome arrival of fentanyl onto the UK heroin market made this important Addaction conference even more timely. But hand-wringing is not enough. What needs to be done? By Harry Shapiro. The figures are not huge, about 3000 drug-related deaths…

Twenty years ago this month, Britain woke up to news of the first death caused by the rave drug ecstasy in Manchester’s Hacienda club. Gibby Zobel, then an 18 year old local newspaper reporter who broke the story, looks at…

The manslaughter conviction of Gemma Evans after her half-sister suffered a fatal overdose exposed a hidden world of intergenerational addiction. Max Daly investigates a phenomenon that will provide the toughest test for the key aim of the government’s new drug…

December saw the death of one of Ireland’s most popular celebrities, Katy French, amid rumours of heavy cocaine use. The model’s death has stoked fears of a growing ‘cocaine culture’ in the country. Powder keg (PDF)

One of our most vibrant and affluent seaside resorts, Brighton has a ‘massive’ heroin problem and is Britain’s drug death capital. But are the latest attempts to reduce crime and help drug users merely scratching the surface? Pier pressure (PDF)

What should happen to the person who deals the lethal ecstasy pill or injects the fatal dose of heroin? Sam Hart reports on a grey area in criminal law which treads the fine line between pushers and punters. Dealing the…

For how long can the government fail to address Britain’ damaging obsession with getting drunk? Srabeni Sen on how a cultural institution has become the government’s elephant in the room. Bottling it: Britain’s booze bugbear (PDF)

The climate of terror and distrust caused by 30 years of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland shaped the drug scene in Belfast. But, although the peace process created a more open attitude to drug use, paramilitary influence is still strong…

Twenty years ago The Face published the first article on the little known drug ecstasy. Ten years ago Leah Betts died. Now ecstasy is being taken by the dozen on street corners for 50p a pop. Andrea Wren tracks the…